Elected Officials from numerous towns and villages planned to gather along with Rensselaer County Excutive Steve McLaughlin on Thursday, February 21, to demand state lawmakers restore the cuts in the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities Funding (AIM) contained in Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal.
County Executive McLaughlin labels the funding cuts “particularly damaging with municipalities already operating under 2019 adopted budgets.” Hoosick Falls stands to lose more than $30,000 in aid, with the village of Cambridge looking at similar figures. Mr. McLaughlin further stated “These reductions in AIM funding would potentially affect important local services relied on by our residents. Local officials across the state, regardless of party, want to see these funds restored without unnecessary delay,”
There is a second plan for AIM funding that would see counties be forced by the state to make up the difference in AIM funding reductions. Funds for the AIM local restoration would come from the county share of an internet tax, but distribution of the internet revenues has not been finalized.